This past week we were able to have Kenney's mom and dad here for a visit. We had the best time with them. I think Ray and Dorothy will need a vacation to recover from their vacation! Neither of them had been to DC at all... so we took advantage of all the sites downtown.
Of course we rode the metro into town...
The girls were so happy to have their granny and papa here!
Ray and Dorothy by the Washington Monument
We went to the Lincoln Memorial.
I had only seen it from a distance and you can tell it's a big memorial... but you don't realize how big it really is until you are standing on the steps!
We went to the Jefferson Memorial. Again spectacular. After we climbed the stairs and got into the center there is a huge statue of Thomas Jefferson. Olivia's eye's lit up and said... "Is that Heavenly Father?" She was dead serious!
We went to the World War II Memorial. It was really neat. Kenney's grandfather (Dorothy's dad) served in World War II so this hit close to home for them. I love this quote...
This was a really cool tribute... There are 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war and on the front the plaque simply states " Here we mark the price of freedom." So powerful.
You can't come to DC and not see The White House...
And the Temple...
We also saw The Capitol. (Another one we hadn't seen) We were able to take the tour inside. What an experience! DC is absolutely amazing!
You can look at pictures of these places all day long but it's a whole new world when you see them up close. The attention to detail in all the buildings is unbelievable. On the very top of the dome on the inside of The Capitol there is this HUGE painting. It's beautiful. The quote on is says "E Pluribus Unum" It's Latin for "Out of many, One" Originally suggesting that out of many colonies or states emerge a single nation, it has come to suggest that out of many peoples, races, religions and ancestries has emerged a single people and nation. (Thank you Wikipedia for the description!)
This was the Memorial that touched me the most. The Vietnam Memorial. My dad fought in this war and I try to think of how he would feel standing there. One of the workers there told the story of how the wall was built and the reasoning behind all of it. The symbolism runs thick throughout the entire wall. From the way it was carved into the ground to the placement of the names on the wall. Over 58,000 names engraved into the black granite. You can see your reflection when you're looking at the wall. They said that the girl who designed the wall wanted people to be able to see their reflection when looking at the names of their loved ones lost. Talk about unbelievable. I didn't take any pictures at this Memorial... I think I was too taken back... so I took these from google!
There is a space right in front of the wall that people can leave things. We saw a few notes and flowers. There is an entire museum full of the things people have left. The guide said they have everything from combat boots to wedding dresses, Easter Baskets, letters home and so much more. I would love to see where they keep it all. After seeing these Memorials you walk away a little taller and a little prouder to be American. We are so blessed to live in this incredible country. I am so thankful for the sacrifices that the soldiers and their families make to defend our freedoms. To the soldiers before us and the soldiers serving now... THANK YOU.
We played long and hard while Ray and Dorothy were here. We saw so much but didn't even scratch the surface of the things that are here! I guess they will have to come back! We wore everyone out! And had so much fun doing it!!
As always all good things must come to an end. Ray and Dorothy, we miss you already and can't wait for you to visit again! We love you and are glad you were able to come see us! After we dropped them off at the airport Olivia said through her tears, "This is the worst day of my life." 
